On this page
This mermaid and seahorse coloring page shows two sea friends meeting in the shallows. On the left, a laughing mermaid with long locs and a purple tail reaches out to pat a big seahorse on the neck. On the right, the seahorse floats upright, with a curled tail, a long snout and a frilly fin along its back. A tiny baby seahorse swims between them, coral rises from the sand, kelp sways on both sides, and small bubbles drift up to the surface.
The seahorse is nearly as tall as she is. That gives the page a playful feel, as if it might be her pet or her ride, with the baby tagging along.
Colors for a mermaid and seahorse coloring page
Yellow makes the seahorse glow, and a pink back fin gives it a nice contrast. Its body has curved bands that are fun to fill with a slightly darker shade. Seahorses in real life can be orange, brown, pink or even purple, so feel free to experiment.
Her purple tail looks great against the blue water. An orange top ties her to the seahorse. Give her a deep skin tone and dark hair as shown, or pick shades that suit your own child. Then use warm pink or orange on the coral.
- Shade each band on the seahorse from dark to light.
- Add a tiny saddle if she rides it.
- Give the baby seahorse colors of its own.
Amazing seahorse facts
Seahorses are real fish, even though they look nothing like one. They swim upright and move slowly by fanning a tiny fin on their back. They hold on to sea grass with their curled tails so the current does not carry them away. Here is the fact that kids love most: the male carries the eggs in a pouch and gives birth to the babies. The seahorse article on Wikipedia has photos of many species.
Their eyes can also move on their own, so one can look forward while the other looks back. Have your child try it. They cannot, and that is the fun of it.
Riding the waves
Ask your child to imagine that the seahorse is her ride. Where do they go? A race around the reef could be a great story. Give the seahorse a name, and write a short tale on the back of the page. A simple plan helps young writers: first, next and last.
You can also act it out. Stand up straight, hold your arms by your sides and bob slowly across the room, as a seahorse does. Then switch and wiggle like a fast fish. Kids get a good laugh out of the difference, and it gives them a break from sitting still.
In the classroom
This sheet fits a unit on the ocean. Teachers can use it to compare real animals with made up ones. Draw a line down a piece of paper, and list what is real on one side and what is pretend on the other. Seahorses go on the real side, even though they look like they belong in a fairy tale.
Young kids can also practice the letter S here. Sea, sand, shell and seahorse all start with it. Count how many S words you can spot in the drawing.
Who it suits
Children from four and up can handle the large bodies. Older kids will enjoy the rows of scales, the bands on the seahorse and the small baby in the middle.
More sea pals
Love this mermaid and seahorse coloring page? See the plain seahorse page, or swim along with the mermaid with dolphin page. Our ocean animal coloring pages have many more, and the full group is on our mermaid coloring pages hub.
Questions
Are seahorses real?
Yes. They are real fish that swim upright and hold on to sea grass with their tails.
What color should the seahorse be?
Yellow and orange look bright, but real seahorses can be many colors.
Can I print this for my class?
Yes. Print as many copies as you need for school, home or library use. Please do not sell the page.
